Carpe Diem #323, Threnody (provided by Mark M. Redfearn)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Today we have another prompt in 'reprise', it's provided by Mark M Redfearn, and we had that prompt earlier this year around April 17th. I recall that I wrote a sad episode in loving memory of my brother who died September 3rd 1995 at the age of 35 at Lungcancer. You can find that episode HERE.
Today that prompt is on again and I decided to try to make this a joyful episode, because (in my opinion) death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life in Eternity in the Golden City, the Heavenly Jerusalem.
At the end of May 2013, in that month we had all prompts based on the Tarot cards, we finally entered the heavenly realms. That episode you can find HERE.

Death is not the end
it's a new beginning -
phoenix rises again

What a joy to know that there is new life after death and what a joy that we can (in diverse religions said) reincarnate to live again. In various religions and cultures death isn't the end and therefore has to be celebrated. Of course it's very sad to loose a loved one, but to know that death is not the end ... makes the pain and the loss of the beloved less painful.

Obon-Festival also called: Festival of the Lanterns

Last September, as we had all classical Japanese kigo for autumn, we had also a prompt about "The Festival of the Dead" or "Festival of the Lanterns". (You can find that episode HERE.)
The Festival of the Dead in Japan, which is called Obon, is held every year in the month of August. The festival often goes by a second name: The Festival of Lanterns. As in the traditional festival of Halloween, the souls of the departed return to the world of the living during this time. However, unlike Halloween, in which the souls of the dead are often imagined as malevolent or angry, like the Headless Horseman, Obon is a day when the spirits return to visit their relatives.

Obon-dancers

Many Buddhists in Japan celebrate this holiday by preparing offerings of special food for their ancestors’ spirits, which are placed on altars in temples and in their homes. As the sun goes down families light paper lanterns and hang them in front of their houses to help the spirits find their way home. The celebrations end with families sending colorful paper lanterns lit by candles floating down the rivers and bays of Japan and out to sea. The string of colorful lights bobbing in the water are meant to guide the spirits of their loved ones back to the realm of the dead until next year.

It's a festive celebration, because the Japanese honor their ancestors very strong. And that's what we all do I think. I honor my ancestors by having their photo's in my home surrounded with candles and every year on their birthdays my wife and I placing the flowers which our ancestors liked the most in front of their photo's. For example: grandma's flowers were Fresias, those fragile flowers with their sweet perfume.

Fresias

at her birthday
honoring my grandma -
the scent of Fresia

the scent of Fresia
brings back sweet memories
at her birthday

house altar
photo's of loved ones
I light a candle

I light a candle
in front of my brother's photo -
the scent of Old Spice

I think this has become a nice episode and it's not a sad episode, but a joyful episode, because ... death is not the end, it's a new beginning ... remember your lost ones, cherish them in the warmth of your heart. They will be there for you always.

This prompt will stay on 'til October 17th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new episode, symbiotic (provided by Sam Edge), later on today around 7.00 PM (CET).
!! Threnody is open for your submissions at 7.00 PM (CET) !!